This is from chapter 24 of the Daodejing (often called Laozi after its reputed author). The selected material is only parts of their respective chapters:
“One who shows off will not shine
one who promotes himself won’t become famous
one who boasts of himself will get no credit
one who glorifies himself will not become leader.
In Dao
this is called ‘stuffing oneself,’ ‘overdoing it.’”
* * *
From chapter 9:
“When gold and jade fill the halls,
no one can guard it all.
Rich, famous—and conceited:
leading to a downfall self-caused.”
* * *
From chapter 67:
“I have three treasures,
I protect and keep hold of them.
The first is called ‘gentleness’
the second is called ‘frugality’
the third is called ‘not presuming to act like leader of the world,’
so able to become head of a government.
Now:
To be hold without being gentle
to be lavish without being frugal
to act like leader without putting oneself last:
This is death.”
I have used Michael LaFargue’s translation because I like much of its commentary as well as its “hermeneutic” appendices (‘a reasoned approach to interpreting the Tao Te Ching’), which includes a topical glossary and an important discussion of the different kinds of aphorisms and sayings in the text: The Tao of the Tao Te Ching: A Translation and Commentary (State University of New York Press, 1992). Should you be interested, here is a short “study guide” for Daoism.
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